Bobby pin



June 12, 1951 H. E. CIZHAPIN ETAL I 2,556,749

' BOBBY PIN 1 Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

lI|| ||Hill-ill!flllllllIllllli-llllll-lllllll!-I|| .7 W% 32 31 2 35. J5 Z5 Z7 (Ittomeg June 12, 195] H. E. CHAPIN ETAL 2,556,749

BOBBY PIN Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventors HAROLD E CHAP/N PUBT 5. (HAP/N attorney Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED BOBBY PIN Harold E. (Lhapin, San Fernando, and Robert S. Ghapin, Oxnard, Calif;

Application March 4, 1950, SerialNo. 147,698

1 20'Claims.

This invention relates to hairpins and 'deals more particularly with a bobby pin of eificient and novel form.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our pending applications, serial No. 11,408, filed February 27, 1948, and Serial No. 30,100, filed May 29, 1948, both entitled Bobby Pin, and both now forfeited. 7

An object of the present invention is to provide a bobby pin that is readily and easily opened with one hand to receive hair, thereby obviating the faults in prior pins which entailed a twohanded operation, the undesirable use of the teeth of the user, or the need for other aids to open the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobby pin that is readily opened with one hand and that will remain open for greater facility in applying the pin without danger of damage to fingernails and the fingers while being applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobby pin that is effective to retain operative engagement with the hair and can be formed of stronger, more durable material than heretofore, since the construction embodies a power advantage enabling ready opening of the pin despite being formed of such stronger material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bobby pin embodying the features above indicated and, in addition, being formed to prevent injury to the scalp in use and when being removed and also being formed to facilitate removal without snagging of the hair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobby pin, as indicated, that is roughened or knurled at the points of pressure application, to obviate inadvertent slippage while the same is being opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bobby pin of the character indicated that embodies means affording free non-snagging passage of hair during use, both when applying the hobby pin and removing the same.

Our invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of bobby pin according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof in its normal closed hair-engaging position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the pin open and ready to receive a tress or look of hair.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing an important structural detail.

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on line 55 of Fig; 2.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of bobby pin according to the invention.

Figs. 7 and 8 are side views thereof, respectively closed and open, said views being comparable to Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a second modification.

Figs. 10 and 11 are side views thereof, respectively closed and open, as in the earlier forms of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan View of said second modification.

Fig. 13 is a side View, in open condition, of a third modification of the invention.

Each of the four forms of the invention comprises, generally, an intermediate spring arm 15, an inner lever arm I6 connected by a relatively small bend I! to one end of arm [5, an outer arm [8 connected by a larger bend l9 to the other end of arm l5, latch shoulder means 20 provided intermediate the ends of outer arm It for latching engagement with the free end 2| of inner lever arm H6, and hair-guiding means 22 provided on arm is and operatively associated with said free end 2| to guide hair over said free end and to obviate hair slipping thereunder.

The arms I5, l6 and I8 that comprise the bobby pin are integrally formed of a length of fiatsectioned spring metal of the type usually employed for such articles. However, because of the power advantage embodied in the present structures, whereby the same are readily opened with one hand, said length of metal may have sturdier and longer-lasting properties that impart both durability and greater hair-gripping ability.

The arm I6 is arranged to be superimposed over portion 23 of arm l5 and to lie quite closely thereto. As seen in Fig. 2 of the preferred form, arm I6 and portion 23 are preferably spaced somewhat to insure proper operative engagement of the hair-guiding means 22 and end 2| of arm IE. Thus, in said preferred form, arm 16 and portion 23 are in spaced, substantially parallel, relationship. The hair-guiding means 22 is provided intermediate the ends of arm I5 and somewhat nearer bend I9 than bend [1. Arm i8 is arranged to be superimposed over that portion 24 of arm i5 that extends between bend l9 and. hair-guiding meansltand over arm [6, terminating at 25 short of bend l'L' The latch shoulder means 28 is preferably found in arm 8 to be intermediate its ends be-i tween a portion 26 that extends from bend. i9,

and a portion 2? that is superimposed over arm I6 and terminates at 25. As shown in theform end 2! may be abutted when said end is di'sposed in the dimple. Inasmuchas the seat, or cavity provided by the dimple resides'entirelywithin the width of arm [5, said seat or cavity is relatively narrower than said width. Accordingly, arm end 2! is reduced in width, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, to freely enter the dimple to impinge on wall 29. In the modifications, latch shoulder means as comprises a shoulder wall 33 that is provided by upwardly offsetting arm portion 2'5 relative to arm portion 28. Shoulder walls 29 and 3E; arealike in that the same each constitute an abutment for arm end 2 i.

In the preferred form, Figs. 1 to 5, the hairguiding means 22 directed dimple 3 I that is somewhat deeperv than dimple 28 and oppositely directed thereto. Dimple 3i affords an inwardly directed cavity 32 freely receptive of arm end 2!. The latter is curved, substantially as shown, so that the point 33 thereof will reside in said cavity considerably below the lateral portions 34 flanking the cavity, thereby insuring that hair in the bight formed by,

arm portions 24 and 26, if moved in a direction away from bend I9, will be guided by said flank ing portions and over the curvatureof end 2| outwardly between arm 35 and arm portion In the modificationof Figs. 6, 7 and 8, an inwardly directed hump 35 is formed inarm i5 instead of dimple 31, so that the same resides, immediately adjacent to end 2| of arm i5. Said.

hump is formed as an offset returnbend of a height at least equal to the thickness of arm i5. and. serves to 35 and thus allows arms [6 and I8 to contact.

each other to hold the thickness of the bobby pin to a minimum.

In the two other modifications, the hair-guiding means 22 comprises lateral portions 31. integrally formed on arm l5. These portions are upwardly bent to provide said arm with a U- shaped cross-section that houses arm end 2| substantially. as shown. The upper edges 38' of portions 3! are at least flush with the upper face of arm l5 and preferably somewhat thereabove. The respective forward and rearward edges 39 and m are sloped or curved in the general manner shown. It will be evident that portions 31 serve to guide hair, moving as before, to prevent said. hair snagging under arm end 2|.

is formed as an outwardly The bobby pin shown in Fig. 13, in addition to the above-described features, embodies a reversely bent arm ll that extends from a sharp bend =32 at the end 2| of arm 6 along the top of the latter arm and beyond bend H. The portions 3? are at least as high as the lower part of bend 112 to guide hair over said bend as before. The bend I, in this form of the invention, may snag hair while the pin is being applied. According'ly, ramps or sloping edges 33 on lateral portions 54 may be provided to obviate such hair snagging in a manner similar to the function of edges 45.

The normally closed pin, as in Figs. 2, '7 and 10, isadapted to be.opened with one hand by applyingthe first and third fingers at the points indicated by arrows 45 and 46 and the thumb at the point indicated by arrow 41. Fig. 2 shows thesearrows and it will be evident that the other forms afford the same points of pressure application. In Fig.. 13, thepointiofupressure application indicated arrow ls is, on the end; 43 l of arm l]. As shown in Figs. 9 and ;12 these.

points of pressure may be roughened as by knurls 49.59 andfil, respectively, to insure ag ai st, in; advertent slippage of lthe pin while grasped by the fingers and thumbas indicated;

While arm '15 is preferably initially bowed, as

ther bow arm- I5. Such flexure. .brings the in; rmedia e o nfil of rm. gain an termediate portion of arm lfi, th us pressingsaid latter arm upward andraising the end 2|; thereof away fromhair-guiding means, 22 mg. direction toward latch shoulder. means .20.; Such m v ment o r end. 2i W lLt eref ra. n p.

the same into re-tension,engagement withshoul der wall 29.

arm first upwardly-.flexing, arm. l3 -anduthen latching onto means ,20. This..open..condition of. the pinis shown for eachform in Figs. 3, 8, 11 and 13 in which, it will be seen, anopen throat.

53. is defined between. arms. .I B .and, IS..

The open pin may now .be. grasped. by. portions.

2 and 26. and .the open throat Samoyed toward the tress or look of hair tobe engaged by thev pin.. Said tress or lock of hair thus applies a pressure in' the directionof arrow 54 to press arm end 2! out of latching engagement with-latch shoul der means 2 .to release the fiexure of the pin arms and permit said arms-to automatically close and thereby close arms I6 and 18 over. The pin can then be pressed endwiseinto place 'until parts adjacent thereto, since said means 22 will guide the hair over the arm end as hereinbefore indicated.

The term superimposed, as employed in this description and in the appended claims'fis intended to define general 'contig'uity oft'h respec The point 52 thus fo rms a fulcrum. around whicharm. l6. pivots, the end 2L of said,

time arms .l5, l6 and. 18, whether or not. they touch and; regardless of whether one ,arm ,is above the other or alongside thereof,

While the invention that has been illustrated and describedisnow regarded as the preferred embodiment, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore not desired to restrict the invention to the particular forms of construction illustrated and described, but to coverall modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A bobby pin comprising an integral length of spring material formed with an intermediate portion, a first portion bent back from one end of the intermediate portion and superimposed thereover, said first portion having a free end terminating at an intermediate part of the intermediate portion, hair-guiding means provided on said intermediate portion in operative association with said free end to guide hair over said free end, a second portion bent back from the other end of said intermediate portion and superimposed over the first portion, and latch shoulder means intermediate the ends of said second portion to receive and releasably hold the free end of the first portion.

2. The bobby pin according to claim 1: said length of material comprising fiat-sectioned spring stock, and, the hair-guiding means comprising a dimple formed substantially centrally in the width of the intermediate arm, said dimple defining a cavity in which the mentioned free end of the first portion resides.

3. The bobby pin according to claim 1: said length of material comprising fiat-sectioned spring stock, and, the latch shoulder means comprising a dimple formed substantially centrally in the Width of the second portion, said dimple having a shoulder wall directed to be impinged by the mentioned free end of the first portion to hold the same releasably latched.

4. The bobby pin according to claim 1; said length of material comprising fiat-sectioned sprin stock, the hair-guiding means comprising a dimple formed substantially centrally in the width of the intermediate arm, said dimple defining a cavity in which the mentioned free end of the first portion resides, and the latch shoulder means comprising a dimple formed substantially centrally in the width of the second portion, said latter dimple having a shoulder wall directed to be impinged by the mentioned free end of the first portion to hold the same releasably latched.

5. A bobby pin that is adapted to be opened by one hand to receive hair and comprising a length of resilient material that is formed with two bends to define an intermediate portion, an inner portion extending from one bend and superimposed over the intermediate portion, an outer longer portion extending from the other bend and superimposed over the inner portion, hair-guiding means formed in the intermediate portion adjacent the free end of the inner portion, and latch shoulder means formed in the outer portion for receiving and releasably hold in said free end upon fiexure of the pin by the fingers of one hand against the inner and outer portions adjacent their bends in one direction and against an intermediate point of the intermediate portion in the opposite direction, where- 6 by the latter point presses against the inner portion to urgethe free end thereof to first outwardly flex the outer portion and then engage the latch shoulder means. 7

6. The bobby pin according to claim 5: the points of engagement of the fingers being roughened to obviate finger slippage during flexure of the bobby pin.

7. In a bobby pin, a resilient intermediate portion, two oppositely directed, resilient portions connected to the ends of the intermediate portion, said portions being arranged alongside each other with the free ends of the oppositely directed portions overlapping, the outer of the latter portions having ashoulder arranged to receive in latching engagement theiree end of the innermost of said portions.

8. A bobby pin according to claim 7, inwhich the innermost of said portions is at least a little longer than the distance from said shoulder to the connection of the innermost portion with the intermediate portion, to permit latching en-' gagement of the free end of the innermost portion with the shoulder when the overlapping free ends are moved outwardly from the intermediate portion.

9. In a bobby pin, a bowed, resilient,'intermediate portion, two oppositely directed, resilient portions connected to the ends of the intermediate portion, said portions bein arranged alongside each other with the free ends of the oppositely directed portions overlapping, the portions being arranged to move the overlapping portions outwardly by bowing the intermediate portion, the outer of the overlapping portions having means for receiving and releasably hold ing the free end of the inner portion when the overlapping free ends are moved outwardly by bowing of the intermediate portion.

10. A bobby pin comprisin an integral length of resilient material providing an intermediate portion and two end, overlapping, portions, the overlapping portions being movable to a position in which the outer portion is under tension and arranged at an angle to the intermediate portion, and the inner, overlapping portion is disposed to brace and hold the outer portion in its said tensioned. position, the inner and outer portions having inter-engaging means arranged to hold the latter portions in their said bracing and tensioned positions.

11. The bobby pin according to claim 1: the hair-guiding means comprising a hump formed in the intermediate portion adjacent to the free end of the first portion.

12. The bobby pin according to claim 5: the hair-guiding means comprising a hump formed in the intermediate portion.

13. The bobby pin according to claim 5: the latch shoulder means comprising an abutment Wall.

14. A bobby pin according to claim 7: a hump in the intermediate portion and the inner of the oppositely directed portions extending approximately to said hump.

15. The bobby pin according to claim 1: a hump in the intermediate portion between its ends, the first portion having a free end terminating adjacent said hump, and the second portion having an end terminating substantially short of the opposite end of the bobby pin to expose a finger-rest part on the first portion to aid in flexing the bobby pin.

16. A bobby pin comprising a length of spring material formed with end bends to provide an 7 intermediate portion and two superimposed .end. portions superimposed on the intermediate portion; one end portion" having an end --terminat ing at an intermediate-point of the intermediate portion, andm-hai-r-guiding-means formed on said intermediate point to guide hair over :said end;

17; The bobbypin-accordin te claim 16': said hair-guiding means comprising portions of said intermediate pointflanking :said endsubstantially the thickness ofthe latter.

18. 'Ihe-hobby-pinaccording to-claim- 16-: said hair-guiding means comprising-portions ofsaid intermediate -pointflanking said end substantially the thickness of theiatter end-portion 19; Thebobby-'pinaccording-toc1aim7: are-- se verse1ydirected portion extending irom a-bend: on the iree 'end of the innermost of :the resilient portions beyond the opposite end of said innen most portion;

203 The bobby pin accordingtdclaim a re versely d-i r ected portion extending: from a bend on-thefree end ofthe-innermost of the resilient portions beyond the *opposite' end of said "innermost portion; and lateral portions on said: re versely d ir'ected portion and flanking said 1 opposite end of the innermost por-tion.

HAROLD E.-CHAPIN. ROBERT 'Sl' CHAPIN;

No references cited. 

